I see it. I'm digging it.  

It would have been weird if you said " -- FRONT end is next."

You can learn a lot on YouTube.  Welding Tips and Tricks is a great resource.  Much of the content goes beyond backyard fabrication but you'll at least understand what a good weld is.

I went back and fixed my last post.  

I've appreciated your questions and comments, SurvivingPhilly.

The rear fender looks like somebody has been doing target practice!  

zevenenergie wrote on 03/25/24 at 09:52:35:

EBC brake rotor was about $130 us from parts giant at the time.

https://www.partsgiant.com/p342028-ebc-pro-lite-brake-rotor?m=324130&f=114674...

This purchase was because the stock rotor had serious gouges after a bad brake event like two years ago.

I'll be honest I can't say if it's made any improvement on the woefully inadequate brakes we have. I honestly can't remember the feel of the stock rotor.

PS - Did you ever tinker with that Murray Mikuni VM36 carb?  Or are you still riding with "Murray's recipe" of 27.5 pilot, 165 main, circlip in the 2nd from the top groove on the needle?

You have a very similar exhaust as mine.  I went up to a 200 main - runs good, solid WOT, but probably a little big. I haven't been able to do any real gas mileage testing yet.  Just started tracking this week.  I never rode the bike with the 165 main jet and just took some guidance here and went up to the 200.  When I get bored, I'll probably put a 190 main in there and experiment.

Yeah, Murray defended his cable twice to me and said "nobody else has ever mentioned a problem".  After sending multiple pictures and discussions, he finally agreed with me.  He ended up making 2 cables for me because the first one he sent was still too long.  After arguing about the throttle tube, elbows, and other items, and more photos, he finally made one to MY specifications that works and fits right.

So, you still have the 165 main jet and you think it's fine???  Shaking my head....  You're either missing out on some top end WOT or I'm wasting gas.      

I'm going off Lancer's guidance of a 200 main (but he's also offered other guidance of 170-200).  So, that's confusing....  I've compared Lancer's VM36 specs to Murray's VM36 specs and they are the same (slide cutaway, air bleed, jet needle, etc).

For now, I'm just happy Woody is running good and I've finally eliminated the oil leak at the stator wire exit (took 3 gasket tries, some strategic RTV placement - 3rd time's the charm I guess)....